Learning the enemy’s schemes

“Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” 1 Peter 5:8

In the battle for your soul, do you recognize the enemy when he comes your way?Jeff Verdoorn emphasizes why we need to identify Satan’s scheme of disguise and remember our eternal victory in Christ.

“He is an adversary. He is our enemy; the enemy of our souls. I’ve read the back of the book and we win in the end. Satan’s fate is sealed, but God says to know his schemes. He’s pictured as this lion, roaming around looking for people to devour. He does have power in this world to kill, maim and destroy, and he can even destroy believers.”

“How many martyrs have there been for Christ over the years? That’s not at God’s hand, that’s at the enemy’s hand, it’s Satan’s hand. But do not fear him who can destroy the body, the physical body in this world, but fear Him, God, who has the power over the body and the soul. While Satan can harm and bring havoc and torment in this world, know that he can’t touch your eternal fate.”

Jeff helps us to combat Satan’s temptation, lies, and torment with the living and active Word of God. He refers to 1 John 4:4,

“He is a real person; he’s a real enemy of soul, but the great truth of God’s Word is that ‘greater is He that is in me, than he who is in the world.’”

“When we see temptation, we resist and flee. When we see the lies coming from Satan, we need to seek truth and understand the truth. So get in the Word. Understand His Word. Understand His promises. When that day of evil comes, you hold on to God with all you have, trusting in Him with all of your life.”

John 10:10 warns us that the thief comes only to steal, kill and destroy. But that’s not the end of our story, because Christ lives in us. We can stand victorious and have the power to overcome the enemy’s schemes.

Jeff Verdoorn has been teaching various bible studies for more than a dozen years. His favorite topics to teach include the End Times, Creation, and Salvation. He also teaches a Worldview and Culture class at Southwest Christian High School.